WATCH: Rishabh Pant Hits Bullseye to Dismiss Mitchell Starc in BGT!

In the fourth Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India took the eighth wicket of the second Australian innings at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) thanks to a spectacular direct smash by Rishabh Pant. The tail began to trouble India in the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground when Jasprit Bumrah caused chaos in the second session on Day 2. Pat Cummins also performed well, and Marnus Labuschagne earned 70. 

After being sent back by captain Pat Cummins and having to return for five runs, Mitchell Starc failed to reach the non-striker's end when attempting to take a second run (13). The first ball of the 59th over was when it occurred. Jasprit Bumrah hit a length ball, which Starc easily handled by tucking it away to deep square. Starc wanted to run two, but Cummins and Starc finished a single. But the Australian cricketer refused.

Rishabh Pant's BGT heroics:

pic.twitter.com/xZUSVttjT1

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The ball was tossed towards the keeper in the meantime, and even though Bumrah was near it, Rishabh Pant chose to toss it straight towards the stumps at the non-striker's end because Starc was far ahead of his crease. After a challenging Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Pant may feel more confident now. He was among India's top batsmen in the victory in Perth, but he had trouble scoring a lot in Adelaide and at the Gabba and missed a number of decent opportunities behind the stumps.

In the meantime, India was unable to simply wrap up the tails even after Starc was removed. Bumrah was unable to clear the tail, but he persisted in his spell. Nathan Lyon wasn't put to the test enough in the first phase, but Cummins batted beautifully in the middle. India would be under a lot of strain in the last innings if they don't take the final two wickets soon.

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